YSM is truly saddened by the passing of our former long-serving CEO Rick Tobias on May 18, 2022.
His family shared the following note:
The family of Rick Tobias is deeply saddened to inform his friends that after a sudden worsening of his condition, Rick died today (May 18) in the palliative care unit at Michael Garron Hospital in East Toronto. His family was with him throughout his passing. An announcement will be made at a later date about arrangements for a memorial service. Thank you for all your love, care, and concern as he journeyed through this final chapter of his life.
A memorial service for Rick will be held Wednesday, June 15 at 11:00 a.m. at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St., Toronto. To watch the live stream of the service, click here. A recording of the service will also be available in the afternoon, shortly after the service ends. Interment will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, with the service for family only.
To read Rick’s obituary and to learn about wishes for acknowledgments in his honour, read this.
As a means of acknowledging Rick and his legacy, those impacted by Rick’s life and leadership to consider making a gift or pledge in his memory to YSM today. To do so, please click here.
We also invite YSM donors and friends who knew and loved Rick to send condolence notes, memories and stories to us, which we will compile into a memory book for his family.
Please email rememberingrick@ysm.ca or forward any notes to Executive Office at Yonge Street Mission, 306 Gerrard St. E., Toronto, ON M5A 2G7 and we will deliver them to the family when appropriate.
YSM works with three distinct groups, providing programs and services designed specifically to support and propel our neighbours to remove barriers in their lives, overcome poverty and reach their personal goals.
YSM Evergreen’s services provide wrap-around care and support for challenges faced by Toronto’s street-involved youth (16-24 years). From health and dental care, employment services, mental health counselling, warm meals and much more, we help youth find their potential and work towards their goals.
We work to strengthen families, to help them stay together as a unit. Workshops on parenting, after school programming, skill development, care management and much more cater to the unique needs of struggling families.
YSM’S Bridges services support adults working towards a better life through personalized wrap around care, small group learning, warm meals, and community connection. We focus on helping adults aged 18-60 to improve their emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing by setting and reaching goals.
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